Lives of Scripture

Mithredath served as treasurer to King Cyrus of Persia at the pivotal moment when the Jewish exiles were released to return to Jerusalem. After conquering Babylon, Cyrus issued a decree permitting the exiles to go home and rebuild the temple of the LORD (Ezra 1:1-4). As part of this restoration, Cyrus also 'brought out the articles of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought from Jerusalem and put in the house of his gods' -- the sacred gold and silver vessels looted by the Babylonians decades earlier (1:7). Scripture specifies that Cyrus 'had them brought out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and he counted them out to Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah' (1:8). The text goes on to itemize the vessels in detail -- basins, knives, bowls, and other gold and silver articles totaling 5,400 pieces (1:9-11) -- underscoring the careful, accountable nature of Mithredath's role in this transfer. Though a Persian official rather than an Israelite, Mithredath's faithful handling of this handoff was instrumental in restoring what had been stripped from God's house, a small but necessary link in the larger story of Judah's return from exile.